New from Homeland Security

This news feed arrived in my mailbox today from the US Department of Homeland Security so I will share with you the information regarding border crossing which will go into effect on 31 January 2008:

"Land/Sea Travel

Beginning January 31, 2008, the United States will end the practice of accepting oral declarations of citizenship at the border.

• U.S. citizens ages 19 and older must present documentation that proves both identity and citizenship. Identification documents must include a photo, name and date of birth. View the complete list of acceptable documents at CBP.gov.
• Children ages 18 and under will only be required to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.
• More information for specific populations and situations"

These are the same qualifications as in the past - identification and proof of citizenship. If you view the complete list of acceptable documents, the enhanced drivers license is now on the list when they become available. Good news for fishermen and hunters driving to Sunset Lodge.

Hard-water Walleye Fishing

Yep! The inspiration for this posting is ice fishing! As I look out on the bay, Red Lake is in it's hard water season. We enjoy fishing for Red Lake walleye in all open seasons and found this article in Ontario Out of Doors - Walleye Tactics for Tough Times by Gord Ellis.

He states, "No ice-fishing trip would be complete without pre-outing stories. These tales usually start shortly after coffee is picked up at the drive-through". Gord reviews 2 or 3 rod jigging systems, hanging big baits, skinny water and discusses dark vs clear lakes.

So head out for some hard-water walleye fishing soon! We will be doing the same here at Sunset Lodge. We will share our fishing stories this summer.

Passport Requirements

We at Sunset Lodge continue to receive news that "A late “add-on” to the U.S. budget just signed by President Bush contained a provision to delay the land and sea passport requirement until June of 2009. As a result, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will not require a passport this summer to return to the U.S. by automobile." This from All Canada Shows and Patricia Region Tourist Council. I haven't yet received word from the Homeland Security site that I subscribe to and will let you know as soon as I see the changes.

While this is good news for vacationers on both sides of the border, it remains that there will only be 60 day notice of change to this requirement. We still recommend that you get your passports. Remember - you will need them to enter our contest this summer!